Adventure in Costa Rica and Panama

DAY 1 PUERTO CALDERA, COSTA RICA

Absorb Costa Rica’s magnificent biodiversity by adding a land package to your cruise. Venture to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, where 300-year-old trees and orchids form a spectacular backdrop to resplendent quetzals, tapirs, monkeys, sloths, and other rainforest residents. Or head to Tortuguero National Park, one of the most remote places in Costa Rica, known for being a primary nesting site of endangered green turtles.

DAY 2 PLAYA FLAMINGO, COSTA RICA

Playa Flamingo is considered one of Central America’s most beautiful beaches with it pristine blue water, exotic marine life, and some of the best deep sea fishing to be found. Located in Punta Salinas on the country’s Gold Coast, Playa Flamingo is the only full-service marina between Acapulco and Panama. Other water activities include year-round SCUBA diving, swimming, and snorkeling. The stunning and unspoiled white-sand beaches will remain in your memory for years to come.

DAY 3 BAHIA HERRADURA, COSTA RICA

The coastal area of Bahia Herradura is known worldwide as the fishing capital of Costa Rica. It is a popular tourist destination with close proximity to Jaco Beach, with its excellent surfing conditions. This area offers many other outdoor recreational options along the black-sand beaches lined with palm trees. You will not have to worry about running out of daylight regardless of the time you visit because the sun rises and sets at the same time in Costa Rica all year long.

DAY 4 QUEPOS, COSTA RICA

The former banana-exporting town of Quepos is your basecamp for a day of rainforest adventure. Take a walk along trails that weave up to waterfalls, or ride horseback to a beautiful jungle pool. A float trip through a mangrove swamp populated by monkeys, crocodiles, egrets, and herons is also available. Or you may choose a nature walk through Manuel Antonio National Park, with its lovely beaches, easy trails, and abundant animal life.

DAY 5 BAHIA DRAKE, COSTA RICA

Bahia Drake, a UNESCO site, offers a wide variety of activities for you.  Explore the vast rainforest and expansive mangroves – home to monkeys, crocodiles, and more.  Traverse the rainforest’s canopy on a zipline tour or join a naturalist guide on a horseback ride.  Snorkel the waters off Cano Island, where sea turtles, dolphins, parrot fish, manta rays and more reside.  Join a hiking tour through the peaceful green world of the Osa Biological Corridor listening for red macaws, toucans and other small mammals.

DAY 6 PUERTO JIMENEZ (GOLFO DULCE), COSTA RICA

Picture Jurassic foliage growing down steep hillsides all the way to the waterline, the hoots  of monkeys echoing through trees choked by orchids. Golfo Dulce is one of Costa Rica’s most biodiverse areas, where both the jungle and the sea brim with life. Explore the canals by kayak in search of javelinas, butterflies, and more bird species than in all of North America.

DAY 7 ISLA PARIDA, PANAMA

Located within a Nature Preserve of 50 islands, and part of Chiriqui Marine National Park lovely Isla Parida boasts magnificent beaches, one of which is over 1,300 feet long.  The crystal clear waters stay at 82 degrees year round and are filled with marine life. There are numerous hardwood trees like teak, mahogany, and eucalyptus, and fruit trees like mango, banana and coconut trees. Here you will be treated to Windstar’s Signature Beach Party on a secluded beach that faces the Pacific Ocean.

DAY 8 AT SEA

DAY 9 ISLA CONTADORA, PANAMA

The most frequented of the Pearl Islands (known and named for the large pearls found there), Isla Contadora is small, covering less than 1 square mile. It was the island the Spanish stopped at to count the harvested pearls collected prior to returning to Spain. The pearls found here were of many colors and sizes and the industry thrived until the early 1900s when an underwater epidemic killed most of the pearl oysters. This lovely island offers white-sand beaches and warm, turquoise waters.…

DAY 10 BALBOA / FUERTE AMADOR, PANAMA

One of the entrances to the Panama Canal on the Pacific side, Balboa/Fuerte Amador was founded in 1519 and is a short distance from Panama City.  In 2012 Balboa was ranked #1 in Latin America in the category of world’s busiest container ports. Sightseeing highlights include the colonial homes, the Administration Building, the Goethals Memorial, the Prado, and the local handicraft markets of traditional Panamanian crafts.

DAY 11 PANAMA CANAL, PANAMA

At nearly 48 miles long, on your transit through the Panama Canal you will enter three sets of locks that raise and lower the vessel 85 feet between the calm Pacific Ocean and the shimmering waters of the Atlantic. Your voyage features a daylight hours transit with numerous observation vantage points for outside viewing and comfortable indoor air-conditioned lounges. Expert onboard commentary enhances your journey as you watch the day to day workings of this bucket list experience.

DAY 12 COLÓN, PANAMA

Explore the inner workings of the Panama Canal, head into the jungle to meet with Embera Indians, or take an aerial tram ride through the rainforest canopy.

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Rates shown are in Canadian Dollars per person, based on double occupancy. Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses are additional.